April 25, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

A Timely Lesson from the 1st Book of the Bible

No, I am not talking about Genesis; it is the Book of Job, which is considered the first book written for the Old Testament Bible. I am sure it was written either, right after the flood (Noah & the ark) or a few hundred years before the great flood. Either way, this book is the thesis for all who are tried, tempted, and looking for righteousness. I love the Book of Job and the many truths that are found in Job’s life story.

It is not easy being tried (or tested) by God, but you and I must remember that God does not tempt anyone, but it is Satan that tempts us by trying to get us to turn against the Father and live only for ourselves. Satan can never tell the truth and seeks only to bring accusations against you to God in heaven. You are the prize and loved by God, and Satan wants everything that God has planned for you to come to ruin. (The story of Adam and Eve is the best Scriptural story of this theological concept.)

Here is how it works. Satan seeks to destroy God’s purposes for your life. God wants you to decide whom you plan to serve, who is telling the truth, and what you finally choose what is best for your life. God tests us; He is testing you, seeing ‘what you’re made of’. (The New Testament story of Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus was tried and tested. So why do you think you are not tested?)

God is asking if you truly believe (read the last chapter of the Gospel of Mark). Is God who He says He is, and will He do what He says He will do; or is Satan telling us the truth by life’s events, circumstances around us, and/or the tragedies that engulf our very existence? Satan comes to us only to steal, kill, and destroy—remember, Satan knows only to lie; truth is never on his side.

So how did Job handle being tempted by Satan when being engulfed in the process of being tried by God? Where did he end up when Satan threw everything at him, yet under one condition—God’s told Satan, “You cannot take his (Job’s) life?" Could you have done any better? Would you have gotten as far as Job did? Are you a better person than Job? (Be careful how you answer—read the Book of Job with you taking the place of Job.)

My favorite part of the book is chapter 19, and my favorite verses are 19:25-27. Oh, that all of us would be able to say these words and find the hope that only exists in Christ:

I know that my redeemerlives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him with my own eyes; I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (NIV)

A history lesson as to what happened to Job: 1) all of his kids and their families were killed; 2) all his belongs were taken from him or destroyed (livestock and buildings); 3) his employees were captured or killed that worked for him; and yet, 4) he did not blame or accuse God for what happened to him, the Bible says.

The devil/Satan realized that his first plan of action did not work so he decided to make Job very sick. But still that did not work even though Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. It was not until Job’s friends turned against him that he began to speak. Now finally the motives and reasoning of his heart finally came out. This is the activity of the Holy Spirit! The sword of the Spirit of God divides and brings to light the difference between one’s actions & words, and a person’s true motives and heart response to what God is doing or not doing. Job’s true motives and what he truly believed came out.

Job did blame God by saying, “I did nothing wrong and you (God) turned against me.” God said in reply, “Who made you a judge over Me? Who are you to think that I erred in testing you? You are not as perfect Job as you thought you were, nor are your words just and righteous.”

In the end Job humbled himself, repented, and realized that he is just a man and does not have control over what takes place in his life. But this is not the end of the story. God told Job to pray and forgive his friends who said unkind and incorrect statements to him about his relationship with God and what God wanted from him.

Job did ask for forgiveness, renewed his relationship with God, and prayed for his friends. God in the end blessed Job and gave him back a new family and riches beyond what he had before. God is indeed gracious, full of mercy, and kind in every way!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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